Lithodora plant named ‘White Star’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lithodora  plant named ‘White Star’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; numerous blue and white bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lithodora diffusa.

Cultivar denomination: ‘White Star’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLithodora, botanically known as Lithodora diffusa and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘White Star’.

The new Lithodora is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of Lithodoradiffusa ‘Grace Ward’, not patented. The new Lithodora was discovered andselected by the Inventor on a single flowering plant of ‘Grace Ward’within a population of plants of ‘Grace Ward’ in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Sacramento, Calif. in March, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lithodora by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Lancaster, Pa. since Jun. 14, 2004,has shown that the unique features of this new Lithodora are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Lithodora has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘White Star’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘White Star’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofLithodora:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded        plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Numerous blue and white bi-colored flowers.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lithodora differ from plants of the parent, ‘GraceWard’, primarily in flower color as plants of ‘Grace Ward’ haveblue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lithodora can be compared to plants of the Lithodora‘Lithospermum Star’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,096. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Lancaster, Pa., plants of the newLithodora differed from plants of ‘Lithospermum Star’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lithodora and ‘Lithospermum Star’ differed        in flower color as plants of ‘Lithospermum Star’ had flowers        with blue-colored centers and white-colored margins.    -   2. Plants of the new Lithodora had shorter peduncles than plants        of ‘Lithospermum Star’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Lithodora, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Lithodora.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical plant of ‘White Star’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflower of ‘White Star’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring in Lancaster, Pa. in10-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and underconditions which closely approximate commercial Lithodora production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 29° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were nine monthsold when the photographs and the description were taken. In thedescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lithodora diffusa ‘White Star’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Lithodora diffusa    ‘Grace Ward’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 7 days at 24° C. to            27° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 to 12 days at 21°            C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 28 to 30            days at 24° C. to 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 32 to 35            days at 21° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Herbaceous perennial. Compact, upright,            outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit.            Freely branching habit; when pinched, about 15 primary            lateral branches develop. Vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 16 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 18 cm by 25 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm. Diameter: About            2.5 mm. Internode length: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Pubescent, bristly. Color: Close to 145C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 6 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent, bristly;            coarse.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,            close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 147B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single tubular flowers with usually three            to four flowers and flower buds per lateral branch; about 22            flowers per plant; flowers face upright and outwardly.            Flowers are sessile.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during            the spring in Lancaster, Pa.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about five days on            the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Lanceolate. Color: Close to 157C.        -   Flower diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Flower length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five fused at the            base in a short tube. Lobe length: About 6 mm. Lobe width:            About 4 mm. Lobe shape: Roughly oblong. Lobe apex: Rounded.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely            pubescent. Color: When opening, upper surface: Centers,            close to 155D; towards the margins, close to 101B. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 157C. Fully opened, upper            surface: Centers, close to 155D; towards the margins, close            to 101A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 157B to 157C.            Throat: Close to 155D.        -   Tube.—Close to 155D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl fused at the base. Length: About 7 mm. Width: Less            than 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate to acicular. Apex: Acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely            pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to            155D. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther            color: Close to 162C. Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color:            Close to 162D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 1.2 cm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color:            Close to 145C. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close            to 145D. Ovary color: Close to 145A.        -   Fruits/seeds.—Fruit and seed development have not been            observed on plants of the new Lithodora.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Lithodora have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lithodora.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lithodora have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to about 38° C.

1. A new and distinct Lithodora plant named ‘White Star’ as illustratedand described.